A growing number of medical offices and pharmacies are now offering coronavirus testing in Santa Barbara County.
The three state-run sites in Goleta, Buellton and Santa Maria are open for free COVID-19 testing to anyone, regardless of symptoms or insurance.
These tests are known as viral/PCR exams (usually done with a nasal swab), and look for an active infection of the novel coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Antibody tests, which look for antibodies to indicate a past infection, are available at fewer locations and are not used for medical diagnosis, according to county Public Health Department officials.
The cost of testing is not always free. It is frequently covered by health insurance, but patients should check with their insurance provider to avoid getting a surprise bill.
To find a COVID-19 testing facility near you, anywhere in California, click here to search an interactive map.
Statewide testing resources are also available by clicking here and then clicking Find a Testing Location, which takes you to the interactive map of providers.
People with insurance are advised to seek out testing at an urgent care center, their primary health-care provider’s office, or the community testing sites in Goleta, Buellton or Santa Maria.
Those without a health-care provider or without insurance can seek care and testing at one of the federally qualified health centers. Click here for the list of centers. Free testing also is available at the community testing sites.
Santa Barbara County locations offering COVID-19 testing include:
» OptumServe community testing sites in Goleta, Buellton and Santa Maria. Click here to make a free appointment online, or call 888.634.1123 x8, or call 2-1-1 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Each site has capacity for about 165 tests daily, and appointments can fill up quickly. As of Monday, Goleta and Buellton sites had no appointments available for the near future, Noozhawk readers reported.
» Santa Barbara County Health Care Centers in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Lompoc and Santa Maria
» Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics
» Goleta CVS Health drive-through tests, by appointment at the 7030 Hollister Ave. store
» American Indian Health & Services
» Some Albertsons, Safeway and Vons locations are offering at-home saliva virus tests, for $140 plus delivery
» MedCenter locations in Santa Barbara
» Some Rite Aid locations, including in Santa Maria, have drive-through tests by appointment
» Public Health testing site at 2115 Centerpointe Parkway in Santa Maria. Click here to make an appointment.
» Central Coast Family Care Medical Associates of Santa Maria
Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should call before going to a medical office, to let staff know they are coming, and wear a face covering, according to the Public Health Department.
Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, fatigue, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, congestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and new loss of taste or smell.
The Public Health Department novel coronavirus website, publichealthsbc.org, has information about what to do if you have tested positive for COVID-19, are suspected to have COVID-19 or are identified as a contact to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Test results can take several days to process, and anyone with symptoms and/or known exposure to the virus should isolate until they receive their test results, according to public health officials.
If you have tested positive, public health officials advise you to participate in the public health contact tracing interview; stay home except to get medical care (do not go to work, school, public areas, or use public transit); isolate yourself from people and animals in your home as much as possible; and monitor symptoms.
Anyone with symptoms who has tested positive, or suspects they have COVID-19, should isolate at home for at least 10 days since symptoms started, according to the county.
People who have tested positive but have never developed symptoms should isolate at home for 10 days after their first positive test, according to the county.
Click here for Noozhawk’s Coronavirus Crisis section.
— Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.